A former Michigan county treasurer was arrested last week for allegedly embezzling more than US$1.2 million in public funds, which he sent to a Nigerian fraud scam.
Thomas Katona, 56, the former treasurer of Alcona County, was arraigned in a district court on 17 January on eight counts of embezzlement by a public official and one count of forgery, according to a report in the Oscoda Press.
Held in lieu of US$1 million bond, Katona faces a maximum of 14 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on 31 January.
An audit of county finances by the Michigan Treasury Department revealed a shortage of more than US$1.2 million, state Attorney General Mike Cox told the Press.
County employees were notified last November by National City Bank that Katona had allegedly made unauthorized wire transfers of county funds, according to the press report.
Katona was first elected Alcona County treasurer in 1993. He was removed from the position two months ago by the Alcona County Board of Commissioners.
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June 13th, 2007 at 7:07 am
2007-06-13 03:25:58 – TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan (AP)
A former county treasurer in Michigan was ordered to prison for up to 14 years after stealing county funds and losing them in phony Nigerian investments.
Former Alcona County Treasurer Thomas Katona pleaded guilty in May to eight counts of embezzlement, two of forgery and one of attempted embezzlement. A
judge gave him the maximum legal punishment Tuesday on each count. He will serve from nine years and four months to 14 years.
Katona, 56, made a brief statement in court «indicating how sorry he was and praying for forgiveness,» said his attorney, Dan White. Katona will appeal, he said.
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